Buddy System

A while ago, I wrote a short article on the law of give and take. Since then everywhere I turn I’m discovering blog articles written by people who are in situations where they could use some help, but they are unwilling to ask others to assist or accompany them. And nowhere does this occur more than when it comes to health and age-related difficulties. What I wonder, especially when it comes to the American culture, is why anyone would wish to assert their independence and right to individual choice above all else, when it comes to handling difficult situations.

I am not saying we shouldn’t strive to live as independent people, but we should reflect upon our motivations for asserting this viewpoint like a wet washcloth over all messy surfaces. For, if we are honest, independence often translates into:

• having to handle situations alone
• denying the existence of disturbing symptoms
• refusing advice or company of friends or family members
• postpone making necessary decisions
• ignoring the inevitable
• being just plain ornery
  

When I looked up the meaning of independence (self-reliance, autonomy, freedom, liberty) and autonomy (freedom from external control or influence), I realise that independence is a philosophical stance and not a practical strategy for overcoming life’s difficulties. Why would anyone wish to face their problems alone when the benefits of buddy system are vast?